Here, you will find a wealth of information about our Nursery and Reception program, dedicated Early Years staff and the nurturing environment that we provide for our youngest learners.
As Head of Early Years, I would like to warmly welcome you to our Nursery and Reception classes at St Ignatius Catholic School.
In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we believe that children learn best through play, exploration, and meaningful experiences. Our dedicated team provides a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, happy, and ready to learn. We are committed to supporting each child’s individual journey, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and independence from the very start.
At St Ignatius, faith and community are at the heart of everything we do. Our youngest learners benefit from a caring and inclusive atmosphere, where strong foundations are built not only for future learning, but also for developing friendships, confidence, and a love of discovery.
I hope this page gives you a sense of the joy and care that fills our classrooms each day. We look forward to working in partnership with you as we support your child’s early learning journey here at St Ignatius.
If you would like more details about our Nursery or Reception programme, or if you would like to arrange a visit, please get in touch. We would be delighted to share more about our Early Years provision with you.
Many thanks,
Aimee Chipchase
Learning outside the classroom
Our Early Years children have access to our wonderful outdoor classroom throughout the day. Outdoor learning enriches education in so many ways and is especially important in the world we live in today. Simply being outside improves physical health, social and emotional wellbeing. Research has shown that it also improves immunity, sight, and hearing development. The diverse sensory experiences that outdoor play offers also stimulates cognitive development.
Our Educational Approach
Our play-based curriculum facilitates child-initiated and adult-led learning. It is designed to be flexible and responsive so that teachers can follow children’s needs and interests. Our children learn new skills, acquire new knowledge, and demonstrate their understanding through 7 Areas of Learning and Development which are further divided into 17 aspects. There are 3 Prime Areas of Learning and 4 Specific Areas of Learning.
Prime Areas of Learning:
These areas are all interconnected and are considered fundamental as they provide the foundation for all other learning and development.
Specific Areas of Learning:
These areas of learning build upon the foundation provided by the Prime Areas and focus on more specific academic and skill-based learning.
Holistic Education
We ensure a balance of structured adult-led activities and child-led learning. This approach helps to promote holistic growth and development. During child-initiated learning, children choose their own activities. They have access to resources in our learning environment that promote the 7 Areas of Learning.